Born “Dorothy Goulding…Known for promoting motorcycling for women...traveled the country searching for women who owned and rode their own motorcycles, so as to form the Motor Maids of America (now motor Maids, Inc.) of which she served as co-founder and 1st president for 25 years; became first woman to win Jack Pine Enduro in sidecar division in 1940.” (Commire, Robinson, Dot, 2007)
Bessie Stringfield
“Motorcycling pioneer, rode 1st bike at 16; took 9 long-distance solo rides across America; during WWII< served as civilian motorcycle dispatch rider; became a founder of the Iron Horse Motorcycle club; featured at inaugural exhibit of American Motorcycling Association on Women in Motorcycling” There is an award in her name that the AMA gives to women leaders in Motorcycling. (Commire, Stringfield, Bessie, 2007)
Adeline VanBuren
“With sister Augusta, became 1st woman to cross continental US on solo motorcycles (1916)…With sister was once arrested for wearing trousers in public”(Commire, Van Buren, Adeline, 2007)
Augusta VanBuren
“1st woman to climb Pike’s Peak on a motorcycle, inducted into AAA Motorcycle hall of fame in 2002”(Commire, VanBuren, Augusta, 2007)
Effie Hotchkiss
“Unsatisfied with working on Wall Street, embarked on 5,000 mile motorcycle journey to see Panama-International Exposition in San Francisco CA with mother Avis in the sidecar, then rode back to NY becoming the 1st women to make round-trip transcontinental trip on a motorcycle alone. (Commire, Hotchkiss, Effie, 2007)
Avis Hotchkiss
“With daughter Effie, embarked on a 5,000 mile journey to San Francisco (from New York) in 1915. Considered by some as the 1st motorcycle tourer”(Commire, Hotchkiss, Avis, 2007)
Sue Fish: 1976 Grand National Motorcycle Champion in 125cc and 250cc.
“At the United States’ 1976 National Women’s Motocross Championships the person to beat was 17-year old Sue ‘Flying Fish’ Fish of California. No one did. Ms. Fish is the undisputed champion of women’s motocross, having taken most of the available US titles in 125cc and 250cc Expert class categories in races around the country since then.” (O'Neill, Motorcycle Riders: Grand National Motorcycle Champion, 1979)
Mary McGee
“Ms. McGee was the first woman to race in the treacherous many-hour motorcycle race on the Mexican desert and one of the few riders to actually finish the race. She was the first woman to race in the International Motocross series and the first to race in Grand Prix motorcycle tournaments” (O'Neill, Motorcycle Riders "First" in Off-Road Racing, 1979)
Mary Elizabeth Rhoads
Historical Photo of an early female passenger: Harry M. Rhoads and Daughter Mary Elizabeth on "Indian" motorcycle / photo by Harry M. Rhoads. From the American Memory Database